The Spartans have re-started.
Cedar Community Secondary School is back and so is basketball there. A senior A boys’ team has already played a handful of exhibitions.
The first b-ball home game of 2016-17 was Nov. 29 against the Ladysmith 49ers, a 63-41 loss, and the Spartans were home again Tuesday, taking on the Highland Raiders and falling 75-42.
Rory Peffers, Spartans coach, said when it came to putting together a team, players approached him.
“The kids love sports at this school,” he said. “They were die-hard to get a team, so we’ll help them do the best they can.”
Matt Vickberg, Spartans captain, said “it was important” to players to be able to put a team on the court. He played for Cedar in Grade 8 and 9 and now gets to don the black, white and gold once more for his Grade 12 year.
“It’s definitely an honour to come back and play for the school that I love,” he said.
The Spartans will have their struggles. They have three juniors on their senior team and still have a sparse roster.
“We were scrounging players…” Vickberg said. “We’re down to seven players, so it’s getting pretty thin, but we’ll see what we can do.”
He said the Spartans will need to be careful with fouls, and will also have to improve their fitness so they can keep up with opponents that are able to sub in more players as games wear on.
He and his coaches are encouraged by the team’s improvement, however.
“We all listen to our coaches and we come practise and work hard with our heads up and look for an opportunity to win some games,” said Vickberg.
In other Spartans news, Cedar’s senior A girls’ team had to cancel a game Tuesday due to lack of players and that team’s future is uncertain.
GAME ON … Cedar’s boys will host an exhibition against the Kwalikum Kondors on Tuesday (Dec. 13) at 7 p.m. at the school gym.
sports@nanaimobulletin.com
Basketball is back at Cedar Community Secondary School. Working on an article on the #Spartans for our next issue… pic.twitter.com/F6gcGl9jE8
— Greg Sakaki (@BulletinSports) December 7, 2016